Mikes News 1 Dec

3 Dec	3:15-4:20pm Practical electricity for yrs 6-10, online. Register with melvindinn@gmail.com
3 Dec	4-6pm ASTA Examination Evening Mt Albert Grammar School. Sign up here.
4 Dec	3:15-4:15pm Prac electricity, years 6-10, face-to-face in Taupō, Register with Melvin
4 Dec	3:30pm MoE webinar unpacking the draft curriculum Science Yrs 9-10. Join here.
5 Dec	World Soil Day www.nzsoils.org.nz
8 Dec	6pm Panel discussion on threats to the integrity of science. Ak Art Gallery, Book a seat.
11 Dec	International Mountains day http://www.fao.org/mnts/intl_mountain_day_en.asp
14 Dec	Peak Geminid meteor shower 3 a.m. http://www.rasnz.org.nz/in-the-sky/meteor-showers
14-22 Dec	Hanukkah. Article about the festival
Moon	FM Dec 5        3Q Dec 12        NM Dec 20        1Q Dec 28

If you are changing schools please let me know the new email address before you go on holiday.

Info

1. Mātauranga Māori:
   • Harakeke Nature Journal is a downloadable book on harvesting tikanga and weaving projects. $18. https://www.paitu.co.nz/product/harakeke-weaving-book/
2. Congratulations to Sally Carson for her BLAKE leader Mātauranga/Education Award for her environmental leadership
3. Many thanks to Alison Campbell for all her hard work running webinars with the Schol bio students and teachers over many years.
4. End of year activity
   • A selection of BP Technology challenges from the 3^rd edition of the book [Harry Nichol]: https://web.archive.org/collection-search/pdf/BP%20Technology%20challenge
5. The latest Education Gazette has articles on teaching about natural hazards & Pūhoro STEMM academy https://issuu.com/edgazette/docs/education_gazette_104.11

Resources

1. Biology:
   • A reading and drawing activity based around eDNA https://www.datocms-assets.com/117510/1743982219-draw_as_a_scientist_v1.docx
   • A Data Nugget exploring evidence on whether the tuatara population on North Brother Island has become more male-biased over time due to warming of the island’s climate. Both paper and digital versions available. https://about.dataclassroom.com/ready-to-teach/stand-the-heat
2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
   • The Agri Educators Leaders Course is fully funded PLD on Mon 30 & Tues 31 Mar 2026. Apply by 30 Nov. Info here.
   • Students can apply for the Beef + Lamb New Zealand NZ Agricultural Scholarship by 23 Jan 2026.
3. Earth & Space Science:
   • A star gazing guide: The December Night Sky
   • ID rocks in a garden https://www.earthlearningidea.com/PDF/464_Forgotten_rock_garden2.pdf
4.  Chemistry:
   • An activity testing the juniper ash Roman gladiators used as a recovery drink (source ash from Etsy) https://scienceinschool.org/article/2025/testing-calcium-gladiator-tonic/
   • Reading and PowerPoint about a polymer application https://edu.rsc.org/science-research/new-underwater-adhesive-glues-rubber-duck-to-rock-on-the-seashore/4022330.article
5. Physics:
   • Technology to detect whales to avoid collisions https://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/feature/whale-aware-collisions-ships/
   • Teach Engineering activity to design a solar city https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/cub_solarcity_activity1
6. Primary & intermediate:
   • Apply now for Wonder Projects 2026 – rocket challenge & ice-cream challenge for yr 5-6, power challenge & water challenge for years 7-8. https://wonderproject.nz/programmes/
   • Virtual science teacher has prompts, interactives, simulations, challenges, graph tools … https://virtualscienceteachers.org/

MoE/NZQA

1. Bay Science has prepared a transcript from the yr 0-8 webinar on 27 Nov https://www.bayscience.nz/post/transcript-unpacking-the-draft-science-learning-area-year-0-year-8
2. Exam papers go up on the NZQA website usually within 2 days after each exam under the applicable subject section. Some resource material will appear redacted where it is subject to copyright. Schools are able to access unredacted material via their secure logins.
3. MoE is seeking teachers to collaborate on the design and writing of Yr 11-13 subjects for NZC and TMoA. https://tahurangi.education.govt.nz/phase5_update

Technicians

1. Liquids good for viscosity – golden syrup, dishwashing liquid, cooking oil, water.

Just a reminder that next week will be the last Mike’s News that I send out. NZASE will be responsible for the newsletter from next year.

Cheers, Mike

Mike’s News is brought to you with the generous support of Warp Computers and NZASE